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Friends, rivals remember Marleau

Friends and rivals are remembering, with affection and humour, their personal and political relationships with Diane Marleau, the city's former longtime Liberal MP.

Marleau, 69, died peacefully with her family at her side Wednesday morning at Maison Vale Hospice.

Her daughter, Brigitte Marleau, said the family took Diane to the emergency department at Ramsey Lake Health Centre on Tuesday night, but she was transferred to the residential hospice without being admitted to hospital.

Hospice employees told the Marleau family they had never admitted a resident so near death who hadn't been cared for by home services or in hospital. Brigitte said that's because her father, Paul Marleau, cared for her mother until her last day.

Paul said Diane became ill a year ago when the couple was wintering in Mexico. When they returned home, she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Diane Marleau grew gravely ill a few weeks ago and Brigitte said her wish was to enjoy Christmas with her family and make it to February, when she and Paul were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. She died two weeks short of that date.

Former Greater Sudbury mayor and Nickel Belt New Democrat MP John Rodriguez didn't share Marleau's political views when she was elected MP in 1988, but he shared many a plane ride to and from Sudbury.

When their spouses, his wife Bertilla and Paul, dropped them at the Sudbury airport, the MPs would quip that John and Diane were spouses Monday to Friday while Paul and Bertilla were "a couple" in Sudbury weekdays.

Rodriguez recalled sitting in the opposition benches with Marleau, sometimes side by side, during the government of Progressive Conser vative Prime Minister Brian Mu lroney.

Kind-hearted in her personal life, Marleau had no qualms about going after Mulroney, said Rodriguez.

Nor did Marleau shy away from international figures. Rodriguez recalled a trip to Washington, D.C., with Marleau when they visited Federal Reserve Bank president Alan Greenspan.

Rodriguez will deliver one of four eulogies at a celebration of Marleau's life Saturday at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew's United Church.

Greater Sudbury councillor Frances Caldarelli had a political and a personal friendship with Marleau, who served two terms on city council before running for mayor and losing to Peter Wong.

Marleau served a term before her, Caldarelli said, and they didn't know each other.

Two days after the 1982 election, Caldarelli heard a banging at her door and there was Marleau, with a bottle of wine, saying she couldn't wait to meet her.

Caldarelli credited Marleau for the pay-as-you-go policy in which Sudbury council incurred no debt for municipal projects for years.

Fierce in her views, "Diane had a very kind side to her," said Caldarelli.

Marleau was born Diane Paulette LeBel on June 21, 1943, in Kirkland Lake.

She ran for -- and won -- Sudbury for the Liberals in 1988 and went on to serve as Health minister, minister of Public Works and Government Services, and minister responsible for La Francophonie.

She lost to New Democrat Glenn Thibeault in 2008.

While Health minister, Marleau fiercely defended medicare, after developing a passion for it while working in a doctor's office.

Marleau told The Sudbury Star her job was to phone patients who had fallen behind in their medical bills. She heard heart-wrenching stories about people's inability to pay because of their illnesses and it strengthened her commitment to universal health care.

Nickel Belt New Democrat MPP France Gelinas was executive director of Centre de Sante Communautaire de Sudbury for many years while Marleau was MP.

It was momentous 25 years ago when a woman, and a franco-Ontarian at that, was elected to government, said Gelinas. It empowered francophones to believe, "if she can do this, so can I."

Fern Cormier met Marleau more than 20 years ago when he was 17 and she endorsed him as youth representative on the federal Liberal riding association. Cormier went on to work in Marleau's constituency office and ran a couple of her election campaigns.

Cormier learned a good deal from Marleau, but the most important lesson was that people come first before politics, he said.

Thibeault issued a statement saying Marleau's "hard work both in and for Sudbury will not be forgotten, and regardless of our political allegiances, no one could doubt Diane's commitment to the community.

"My thoughts and condo-l ences go out to Diane's family at this difficult time"

Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk called Marleau a political pioneer.

"Her commitment to public service at all levels, and her passion for public health care in particular, served as an inspiration in our community," she said.

Marleau was an inspiration for all women entering politics.

Sudbury Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci posted on Facebook that he was saddened to learn about Marleau's death.

"I was privileged to have worked with her for many years ... and our shared love of Sudbury served as a bond throughout our ups and downs.

"It is my hope the condolences and heartfelt expressions of sorrow by many can provide some measure of comfort to the family and friends she leaves behind. She will not be forgotten."

Marleau is survived by her daughter, sons Donald and Stephane and their spouses, and a grandchild.